At least 11 nurses, including three Christians, were poisoned at Civil Hospital Karachi for eating during Ramadan. During their afternoon break yesterday, the 11 nurses went to the hostel cafeteria for some tea and food. Rita, a Catholic nurse, collapsed first after drinking her tea. Now all the nurses are in the hospital's intensive care unit, some in very serious conditions.

In Pakistan, eating in public during the Muslim month of fasting is illegal. For Muslims, fasting is compulsory. However, hospital workers and travellers are exempt.

Civil Hospital Karachi staff is made up mostly of Muslims who do not tolerate that their non-Muslim colleagues eat during Ramadan.

In the wake of the incident, hospital officials have opened an inquiry to find the culprits.

The Masihi Foundation, a Christian rights organisation, and Life for All have condemned the incident, calling it a "vile act" against religious freedom and tolerance.

Political and religious leaders have also slammed the action. For Sindh Saleem Khokahr, a member of the Provincial Assembly and president of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, "poisoning someone for eating in Ramadan is a barbaric act and must be condemned. There are many Muslims who do not fast during Ramadan. These nurses were poisoned for eating in their cafeteria, not in public."

Malek Fahd, which has more than 2000 students at its Greenacre campus in Sydney’s southwest, receives almost 75 per cent of its funds from state and commonwealth governments.

Following an audit ordered by the federal government after reports in The Australian raised concerns about the school’s financial relationship with the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, Malek Fahd has been told to repay funding given to the school by NSW since 2010 and remains ineligible for state government funds…

In August last year, an investigation by The Australian revealed that AFIC had been charging Malek Fahd millions of dollars in “management fees” for non-existent services and inflated rents…

Mr Patel has not given an account of the funds once they went into AFIC, with a federal audit of the school ordered by Mr Garrett after The Australian found the school achieved no value for money for a range of payments worth millions of dollars to AFIC."

Nigeria: The Special Fraud Unit arrests two Muslim clerics over 13 Million Naira fraud

The Special Fraud Unit of Nigerian Police in its continuous clampdown on fraudsters has nabbed some swindlers who parade themselves as Muslim clerics to defraud innocent members of the public their hard earned money.

The petitioner alleged that sometime in October 2011, one Lawal Suleiman collected his goods (fireworks) valued at N13, 320, 750.00 with the promise to pay as soon as the goods were delivered. That the goods were delivered successfully but the suspect refused to pay.

He further stated that on 18th June, 2012, he got a message from the suspects elder brother who informed him that his brother was swindled by some fraudsters at Ilorin, Kwara State. The fraudsters are Fatai Bamidele and Lateef Ahmed.

Fatai Bamidele, 34 year old hail from Irepodun Local Govt. area of Kwara State. He claimed to be a Muslim cleric who normally assists Lawal Suleiman in his spiritual life. He stated that Lawal Suleiman came to him to seek special assistance concerning the bad dream he had and also that he needed more power and more money.

This request for more money prompted him to introduce him to one Alhaji Lateef Ahmed in Ilorin who happens to be his master and superior.

Lateef Ahmed, 45 year old is from Kwara State. He attended primary school education and later went to an Islamic school to become an Imam. He collaborated with Fatai that Lawal needed protection and more money to be rich.

He informed Lawal that they have two types of money rituals, (i) The one brought by ghost, (ii) the one from daily contribution.

Malaysia: 11 Muslims arrested for not fasting during Ramadan, face fines or six months in jail

Eleven Muslims have thus far been nabbed by the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department (Jais) for not fasting during the month of Ramadan which started on July 21, said Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman on Saturday.. . .

For first offenders, they could be fined up to RM1,000 or imprisoned up to six months or both. For subsequent offences, the maximum fine is RM2,000 or a maximum jail term of one year.

“The arrests were made not to embarrass the individuals, but to let them know that they should respect the month of Ramadan. They should have been practising their duties as a Muslim, to fast during this Holy month, and not to eat at open food premises,” said Daud.

He cautioned that Jais would continue to keep a hawk eye on food premises throughout the state to ensure all Muslims toe the line.

A group of 150 youths -- some as young as 13 and carrying swords and golf clubs -- raided the De Most bar late Saturday, smashing bottles of alcoholic drinks and damaging the property, said Hermawan, chief detective for South Jakarta police.

"Of the 62 arrested most are minors, and some...were armed with Samurai swords, sickles and golf clubs," said Hermawan, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

"They shattered the windows and door and smashed bottles, saying they wanted all bars shut to ensure the month of Ramadan is not tainted," he added.

Twenty-three people face charges of damaging property while four are additionally charged with carrying sharp weapons.

The group called itself the Prophet's Defenders Council, Hermawan said.

"It is usual for me and my followers to raid sinful places during Ramadan," the group's alleged leader, 33-year-old Habib Bahar was quoted as saying by the Kompas.com news website after the arrests.

"They committed sins there. They get drunk so action must be taken," said Bahar, who was also arrested.

In previous years Islamic groups have raided places serving alcohol, but Saturday's attack was the first this year since the fasting month of Ramadan officially began on July 21.

Authorities have ordered bars and nightclubs to close during the holy month, but the ban is not strictly enforced.

Uganda placed on high alert after police say another Muslim terrorist has entered the country

Police has released a photograph of a notorious terrorist feared to have entered the country with plans of hitting Ugandans.

Speaking to the press at the Uganda Police headquarters yesterday morning, the newly appointed police spokesman, Samson Kuteesa, said a terrorist identified as Muhamed Libani Hajji, of Somali origin, had entered Uganda. Kuteesa said the force had got the information through the international antiterrorism security network.

“We have since got his pictures and [urge] members of the public to notify security as soon as they see him around,” Kuteesa said.. . .

In June, Police said that another notorious terrorist, Khaled Mueller had entered Uganda from Kenya. The man was, later, arrested in Tanzania.

Cyprus: Muslim terrorist who targeted Israelis to stand trial on September 12

A Swedish national of Lebanese descent arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of plotting to attack Israeli tourists in the country will stand trial on September 12, authorities said on Friday.

Reuters reported that the man, who has not been identified, faces nine charges of security-related offences related to tracking the movements and areas frequented by Israeli visitors to the holiday island. He was arrested on July 7 as a suspected security threat.

Israel has said the man was planning an attack similar to a suicide bus bombing in the Bulgarian city of Burgas on July 18 that killed five Israelis.

Cypriot authorities have acknowledged the suspect showed behavioral patterns similar to the incident in Burgas, in which the attacker waited for Israeli holidaymakers to board a bus at an airport before detonating a backpack of explosives.

Animal rights activists have launched a campaign online to demand that Egypt improve the conditions of animals at zoos across the country. The petition, now circulating on The Petition Site, said that zoos in the country are “starving, torturing, abusing poor defenseless animals.”

The call for action singled out zoos in Giza, Alexandria, Fayoum, Kafr el-Sheikh and al-Arish as places that need immediate attention.

At the Kafr el-Sheikh facility in the Nile Delta, the campaign said the animals are often mistreated and abused by the guards. The petition reported that one of the lions, Antar, faces massive abuse and “his mate (Abla) keeps looking after him and tries best to soothe him,” after the guards continue to terrify him.

At the same facility, they pointed to a female tiger, Samar, who “is malnourished and looks distraught, she is skin and bone.” The activists said guards feed her “with a metal rod, which has a little piece of meat on the end of it only when the guard is paid to feed her. This is complete brutality.”

The petition links to a Facebook page showing images of the inhumane treatment facing animals in Egypt.

Egypt has long struggled to find peace and justice for its captive animals. At the Lion’s Village an hour and a half hours north of Cairo, animals are kept in cages no larger than one meter squared. With the debilitating summer heat in the country, they face dehydration, lack of food and potential death.

Self-appointed morality police to enforce Indonesia's discriminatory Ramadan laws if authorities do not

The Jakarta chapter of the FPI, he [Islamic Defenders Front's Jakarta chapter chairman Salim Alatas] added, has not carried out any raids in the past three years, as they realize it is not their work. However, they’re not sure whether the same will continue this year.

Salim said he would monitor how the police are carrying out their work. He said he has already received several reports of violations tainting the holy month of Ramadan, and has forwarded these to the police.

“We’ll see later, depending on the results of our investigation and field monitoring,” he said.

National Police Chief Gen. Timur Pradopo has earlier warned mass organizations against raiding nightclubs and other entertainment places, as well as saunas and massage parlors, that remain open during Ramadan.

In Jakarta, nightclubs, bars, discotheques, massage parlors and saunas are completely banned from operating during the fasting month. Karaokes and other entertainment facilities can operate from 8:30 pm to 1:30 am. Entertainment places in star-rated hotels are exempted from the restrictions.

But all are prohibited from operating a day before Ramadan, on the first day of fasting, the 17th night of Ramadan, and a day before until a day after Idul Fitri.

“We realize that every one should be protected,” Timur said as quoted by state news agency Antara. “So, if there are such activities [raiding nightclubs], we will deal with it according to the law.”

But even after Timur’s warning, National Police intelligence and security chief Comr. Gen. Pratikno said was told that FPI still planned to conduct sweeping activities.

Indonesia: Qur'an teacher gets five years for teaching suicide/martyrdom bomber how to make deadly bomb

The West Jakarta Court sentenced two men to five years in prison in connection with the April 2011 suicide bombing of a police station in Cirebon, West Java.

Yadi Supriadi and Nanang Irawan were found guilty of teaching suicide bomber M. Syarif how to make a bomb. Yadi had previously urged Muslims to wage war against the nation’s enemies of Islam during Koran recitation classes, telling listeners that they should make a bomb.

UAE: Ramadan, a heavy burden on family budgets, more food consumed than in any other month

Abu Dhabi: With the dawn of the crescent moon Ramadan descends upon Muslims but there are many economic impacts of Ramadan on the average expatriate.

The recent move by different government institutions to set a cap on prices during the month was welcomed by consumers here but most of them cast a sceptical shadow on whether the official efforts would succeed in keeping the price of consumable items at bay.

Yet, expatriates view Ramadan with some degree of cynicism. More food is consumed throughout this month than any other month which contradicts the message meant for the month of fasting.

Shopping carts line checkout counters in supermarkets across the country on a daily basis. Often certain commodities that would normally sell out in a week will disappear in a single day.

This gluttonous consumption is often a post-iftar topic in many households in the UAE.

Iraq: Car bomb in Ad-Dawr kills the wife and four children of a police captain

A car bomb has killed the wife and four children of a policeman in central Iraq, a day after 113 people died in the country's deadliest day in two and half years, police and medics said.

"Around 10 pm (1900 GMT), a car bomb blew up in the garage of the home of a police captain," said a police officer in Salaheddin province.. . .
The bombing struck in Ad-Dawr, just outside Tikrit, where US forces captured now executed dictator Saddam Hussein in December 2003.

It came as Al-Qaeda front group the Islamic State of Iraq claimed responsibility for Monday's wave of 29 separate attacks in 19 cities, which shattered the relative calm that had held in the lead-up to the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

At least 42 people died in fighting between Tajikistan government troops and rebels in the eastern mountainous semi-autonomous Gorno-Badakhshan province, on the border with Afghanistan.

According to the Tajik government, 12 soldiers and 30 militants were killed in the fighting. Radio Free Europe (RFE) reported more than 100 people killed. About 30 of the 40 rebel fighters captured by the security forces were Afghan nationals. Up to 30 soldiers were wounded in the fighting.

The violence reportedly erupted after Tajik government forces launched a massive operation in the region on Tuesday in retaliation to the fatal stabbing of a top official from the Security Ministry on Saturday.

Tajik authorities have blamed the killing on an armed group led by Tolib Ayombekov, a former warlord and Islamist rebel accused by the authorities of involvement in drug and arms smuggling as well as brutal crimes.

The main fighting occurred in Khorog, the capital of Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous region, which sits along a river that marks Tajikistan's border with Afghanistan.

Populated by the Pamiri ethnic minority, the region was the stronghold of Islamist rebels during the 1990s war that cost up to 100,000 lives.

Three liquor stores recently sold booze to a 14-year-old boy whose identity was hidden because he was wearing a full-length burka and face veil at the time, a Sun News Network exclusive has found.

The teenager, clad in an Islamic female's traditional garb of a burka, headscarf and facial covering, shopped in three different LCBO stores north of Toronto last Wednesday.

In each location, the Grade 8 student paid cash for a bottle of sambuca liqueur.

Ontario's Liquor Licence Act requires that before liquor is sold, government-issued photo ID -- a drivers licence, for example -- must be inspected if the buyer is suspected of being under the legal drinking age of 19.

Under the LCBO's Check 25 program, employees can ask for ID from people who appear under age 25 -- a policy implemented in 1997 to prevent young people who appear older than their actual age from purchasing alcohol.

The stunt was co-ordinated and video recorded by Sun News Network host David Menzies, who has made a career out of lambasting Canada's politically correct institutions.

Menzies said the unopened bottles -- totalling just over $80 -- were promptly taken from the teen.

But Menzies suggested the fact the boy was never asked to uncover his face or show photo identification at multiple store locations reveals a deeply ingrained reluctance on the part of Canadian institutions to challenge cultural practices, even when they conflict with broader societal goals such as preventing underage drinking.

"The reason why you have to unveil is that is photo ID is absolutely useless if you don't see the actual face of the person," Menzies said, adding he came up with the idea after an acquaintance told him he had seen this happen at various LCBO locations.

"They didn't ask for an unveiling, and they didn't even ask for (photo identification) ... You say you're socially responsible, you have the policy codified ... but nobody follows it," Menzies said Monday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has blamed Iran for the bombing of a bus which killed at least seven Israelis in a Bulgarian resort.

He said "all signs point to Iran" and said Israel would "respond with force".

It is not clear whether the attack was a suicide bombing outside the Sarafovo airport or whether explosives had been packed onto the bus and then detonated. The Bulgarian Interior Ministy confirmed the explosion had been a terrorist attack.

Local media in the resort of Burgas claim the bus was packed with Israelis, possibly members of a young basketball team on their way to a training camp.

Reports suggest as many as seven people have been killed. Around 30 people have been taken to hospital to be treated for their injuries, while the airport has been closed in the wake of the attack. It is feared three pregnant women were among those injured.

The explosion is thought to have occurred at around 6pm local time (4pm BST). A flight from Tel Aviv had arrived around one hour earlier. All flights from Israel to Bulgaria have now been suspended.

UK: Five Muslim men and a woman suspected of terrorism offenses arrested in London

Five men and a woman suspected of terrorism offences have been arrested in London as part of an intelligence-led investigation involving MI5.

One of the six, who are aged between 18 and 30, was Tasered by police. Eight homes in west, east and north London and one business have been searched.

It is understood the arrests relate to a possible plot involving Islamist extremists, with potential UK targets.

Three of those held are brothers - one an ex-police community support officer.

He served with the Metropolitan Police for more than two years before resigning in September 2009.

The force said he had not been "deployed in any specialist or sensitive roles".

The brothers, aged 18, 24 and 26, were detained in Abbey Road, in Stratford, east London, during an operation involving armed officers.

The BBC understands they are Jahangir, Mohammed and Moybur Alom.

Richard Dart, a Muslim convert who uses the name Salahuddin al Britani, was also detained in the raids, it is understood. He features in a YouTube video which criticises the Royal Family and British military action in Muslim countries.

Updates:

HATE cleric Anjem Choudary has described white Islamic extremist Richard Dart as a “victim” and said his terror plot was an act of “resistance”.

Bearded Dart, 29, is one of three fanatics facing long jail terms for a string of hate crimes.

Last week a court heard how ex-BBC security guard Dart and self-confessed terrorist Imran Mahmood plotted to target Royal Wootton Bassett, Wilts, where people line the streets to welcome home the bodies of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

Dart also talked about killing the heads of MI5 and MI6 and with a third man, ex-police support officer Jehangir Alom, planned to go to Pakistan for terror training.

But twisted Choudary, who groomed Dart, said the terror bid was just “an act of resistance”.

Despite Dart’s guilty plea, Choudary said the men were victims of the UK’s “oppressive” legal system.

He said Dart’s visit could have been innocent and added: “Terrorism, according to the British government, is any Muslim that wishes to defend their Muslim brothers and sisters.

“They could have been abroad for a myriad of reasons but because they are Muslims they can expect no leniency.”..

Richard Dart was jailed for six years, Imran Mahmood received nine years and nine months and Jahangir Alom was jailed for four years and six months.

The London-based trio, who pleaded guilty in March, discussed targeting the town of Royal Wootton Bassett.

The judge said the three were "committed to acts of terrorism".

They were arrested in the capital city weeks before the Olympic Games.

'For Allah'

Dart, 30, of Broadway, Ealing, west London, and Mahmood, 22, from Dabbs Hill Lane, Northolt, west London, were both born in the UK. Alom, 26, of Abbey Road, Stratford, was born in Bangladesh but is a British citizen.

Mr Justice Simon told them they held "radical Islamist beliefs and have shown yourselves to be committed to acts of terrorism".

Dart refused to stand when he was sentenced, and said: "I don't wish to stand up, I believe ruling and judging is only for Allah."

The judge said that they were all "committed fundamentalists" who would have been prepared to kill.

Mahmood and Dart were both given extended sentences, meaning that they will serve two-thirds of their prison terms rather than half, and they will spend five years on licence.

He told Dart and Mahmood: "I'm satisfied to the required criminal standard that neither of you had ruled out an attack in the United Kingdom, and that you, Mahmood, were looking at arming yourself with a bomb."

After the sentencing, the Metropolitan Police said the convictions followed a painstaking investigation by the Met's counter-terrorism command and security services that had uncovered secret conversations about potential attacks in the UK and abroad.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Osborne, head of the Met's counter-terrorism command, said the investigation had involved a "mixture of dedicated, diligent traditional detective work combined with the latest technology and computer techniques".

He said the trio were "dangerous men".

"This case serves as a classic example of how terrorists live in our midst while preparing their acts and their determination to travel overseas to train before returning to the UK," he said...

Richard Dart's extremist beliefs were laid bare in a television documentary made by his step-brother.

The film, called My Brother the Islamist, was broadcast on BBC Three in 2011 and featured Dart having close contact with hate preacher Anjem Choudary and declaring that he backed sharia law to eradicate evil in UK society.

Bearded Dart, who had only been a Muslim for six months at that point, said: "I support the cause of jihad, that's part of being a Muslim."...

US: Muslim-Born environmental lawyer and former academic to be Ordained as Rabbi

On August 25 in New York City, environmental lawyer and former academic Dario Hunter will become the first Muslim-born man to be ordained as a rabbi. Hunter, an openly gay man raised by an Iranian Muslim father and an African-American mother, will graduate alongside classmates who include a Catholic-born Brazilian and a British songwriter. But so far, none of the graduating class has ever met in person: they've all studied via an online program led by Rabbi Steven Blane of the Jewish Spiritual Leaders Institute (JSLI).

A year ago Hunter left behind his academic career in the US and moved to Israel, where he decided to study toward rabbinical ordination. Now, he wakes at 3am Israeli time every Monday to meet Rabbi Blane and his classmates online.

One-third of the members of Hunter's graduating class are converts to Judaism, and their diversity of backgrounds reflects Rabbi Blane's belief in the need to train rabbis to serve the nearly 50% of Jews who are unaffiliated or in interfaith marriages. Blane himself left his previous rabbinical position because he felt he needed to pursue a more progressive mission, and he resigned from the highly regarded Cantors Assembly in 2009 when he was threatened with expulsion for officiating at interfaith weddings. He now trains rabbis and runs an online synagogue, Sim Shalom, which holds services for a global congregation every week.

Blane knows that a former Muslim becoming a rabbi will be uncomfortable for some, but the plurality of backgrounds of his graduating class fits perfectly with his belief in Jewish Universalism.

UK: Plans to deploy surface-to-air missiles in London during Olympics to protect against Muslim terrorism

Britain is planning to deploy surface-to-air missiles on six sites in London, amidst reports that Al-Qaeda is plotting to blow up an American airliner and has trained a Norwegian Muslim convert in an attempt to evade airport security before the Olympics.

Residents in London areas where the Rapier missiles are proposed to be deployed staged a protest and signed a petition opposing the move.

The six sites where the missiles are proposed to be deployed include the Lexington Building in Tower Hamlets, Fred Wigg Tower in Waltham Forest, east London, Blackheath Common; Oxleas Wood, Eltham; William Girling Reservoir, Enfield and Barn Hill in Epping Forest.

On the deployment of missiles, the Ministry of Defence said the safety of the July 27-August 12 Olympic Games was paramount and a "broad range of community engagement" had taken place.

A BLIND charity chief was left shocked and disgusted when he was refused entry to a restaurant because customers did not want his guide dog inside.

Andy Shipley, chairman of disability charity Fieldfare Trust, was in a party of six staff who were turned away from Shahzad Indian restaurant, in Park Street, Slough.

Mr Shipley has a deteriorating eye condition that severely limits his vision and he relies on guide dog Winnie to get around.

Despite having only two tables of customers on Sunday, May 20, manager Muhammed Saleem, claimed customers did not want a dog in the restaurant.

Law states restaurants are obligated to make amendments for guests with guide dogs, but despite protests, the manager refused to back down.. . .
Andy Johnson, Fieldfare Trust director, said: "It's appalling - you'd think that type of social attitude had disappeared some time ago.

"I was totally shocked with the conversation I had with the manager - he understood the rules, but said the feelings of customers were more important than the duty of legislation."

Iraq: An issue of life or death; women face court-ordered virginity tests

Iraqi women face court-ordered virginity tests that often show they were virgins until marriage but shame them nonetheless, doctors at an institute that carries out the tests and a lawyer told AFP.

Remaining a virgin until marriage can be an issue of life or death for women in the Middle East, where those who are seen as having dishonoured the family by having premarital sex are sometimes killed by male relatives.

An average of several virginity tests are performed per day at the Medical Legal Institute (MLI) in Baghdad, in a small windowless room with blue-tiled walls and a black table with leg stirrups at one end.